WSCC millage renewed, Oceana voters vote no

Updated, with all Manistee County precincts reporting.

With most precincts throughout the district reporting in, including all 22 precincts in Mason County, West Shore Community College’s millage renewal request has been approved.

The millage passed overwhelmingly in Mason County with 75% voting yes. Manistee County was not quite as generous, passing the request at 56%. Oceana County voters defeated the request by 55%. West Shore’s main campus is located in Mason County’s Victory Township.

The proposal allows the college to levy .7062 mill for eight years. It is expected to raise almost $2 million for the college in 2014.

“We are gratified by the election results and thank the voters of the college district for your continuing support of the college,” said Dr. Charles Dillon, WSCC president. “A millage election is a referendum on how well the college serves the community and these results  tell us we are headed in the right direction.

“I commit to you that we will be good stewards of the dollars with which we have been entrusted.  We will continue to change lives and to make our community a better place in which to learn, live, work and prosper.”

The college’s district includes all of Mason and Manistee counties and parts of Oceana, Newaygo and Lake counties. In Mason County, the proposal passed 1,712 to 560; Manistee County passed it 1,158 to 634 and Oceana County defeated it 50 to 62. We do not have results from the other counties.